STL County PD looking for suspect who hit an off-duty officer with vehicle

The St. Louis County Police Department is still on the hunt for a suspect after an off-duty officer was hit by their fleeing vehicle near a South County Costco.

Police said at approximately 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday an off-duty officer was shopping at Costco, located at 4200 Rusty Road, near South County Mall, when he was told by store employees that two customers were stealing from the store.

The police officer, a 20-year veteran with the police department, was not in police uniform. He walked out to the parking lot and got into his marked St. Louis County Police patrol vehicle. He observed the two suspects enter a vehicle, described as a panel van. The van then started to drive away from the scene.

The police officer followed the van and conducted a traffic stop in the 11100 block of Lindbergh Business Court.

When the vehicle stopped, the driver of the van immediately ran away but was apprehended. Another suspect also exited the vehicle, but did not attempt to flee, and immediately surrendered. Both subjects were taken into custody soon after without further incident.

While the two suspects were getting arrested, another suspect in the van took control of the vehicle and while attempting to flee, struck the off-duty officer.

According to police, in fear of his life or serious physical injury, the officer shot his weapon at the driver of the vehicle. At this point in the investigation, it is unknown if the driver of the van was struck. The suspect vehicle fled the scene.

The suspect vehicle was located soon after, unoccupied, in the 4500 block of Pennsylvania in the City of St. Louis.

The police officer faced non-life threatening injuries, including lacerations to his hand, along with a lower body injury due to getting struck by the suspect vehicle.

He was transported to a local hospital and remains there for treatment.

The investigation remains very active and is being led by the St. Louis County Police Department’s Bureau of Crimes Against Persons.

At this point in the investigation, detectives believe two unknown suspects were in the suspect vehicle when it fled the scene.

Please asked anyone with further information to contact the St. Louis County Police Department at 636-529-8210 or CrimeStoppers at 1-866-371-8477.